BBC Worldwide, ITV and C4 to launch online venture..

Digital Spy and MediaGuardian are reporting that BBC Worldwide, ITV and Channel 4 are planning to launch I assume a website similar to hulu (which is like a portal website for streaming programmes from different networks in partnership)

As soon as there's more details I'll post a link.

EDIT:
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/a80650/bbc-itv-c4-to-launch-on-demand-service.html

Fair use excerpt:

No surprise really. The article suggests 4oD will develop into this service, so looks like it'll be basically 4oD with the additional content.

I've not tried the BBC iPlayer so no idea how user friendly that is, but ITV.com's offering is awful. It's virtually impossible to work out what's available.



I suspect ultimately the plan is to get this onto TV itself, especially onto Freeview by using partners such as BT Vision and other IPTV/ DTT hybrids - I think both Orange and Virgin are planning something.



P.S. Notice it's "BBC Worldwide", not the BBC, that are the partner here - which I guess means apart from the catch-up service charges will apply to archive BBC programming.

A far more detailed run down is on the BBC Press Office site.
BBC Press Office Release

I wonder if this is part of the reason ITV have been getting tough with You Tube.

The iPlayer is awful, and ITV's is even worse. However, 4OD is quite good, so I hope that's the base for Kangaroo, although I'd prefer a Flash basis myself.

After reading up on Engadget, apparently "Kangaroo" has been going since June from the beeb's point, but I think it's only recently ITV & C4 are involved.
http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/27/bbc-itv-and-channel-4-team-up-for-on-demand-service/ - engadget.

How many people *actually* use these things? I'd imagine quite a few here, but definitely not very many in the bigger scheme of things. It'll never take off like they think it will.

I don't think that online VOD will really take off per-se. I can't really see Joe Public wanting to sit down for an hour infront of their PC to catch up on the latest Top Gear etc

If they can get this onto TV via a IPTV partner like BT Vision, Tiscali TV etc, then they may be onto a winner.

Virgin's on-demand is rather popular however the issues with the current batch on Kontiki based services mean that PC based solutions are not very good.

I'd quite like to see the supposed flash streaming from the BBC, having to download the shows is certainly putting me off both 4od and iPlayer on my computer at the moment.

The abysmal picture quality of both the flash streaming and current download services are putting me off.

The broadcasters have to realise that they have to at least match the quality of illegal downloads - some of which are HD resolution now - if they are to get people to download legally.